Welcome

Serial Killers Essay

Below is a free essay on "Serial Killers" from Anti Essays, your source for free research papers, essays, and term paper examples.

Serial killers are some of the most feared criminals of all. Books are written about them. Movies are made about them. Careers are built upon them. They are the things that nightmares are made of. The most compelling questions are those examining what makes a serial killer. Where did they come from? Did something happen to them in their childhood to cause such deviant behavior? Is it a genetic mutation? Was there a single trigger event? We search for answers in order to make sense of seemingly incomprehensible acts. We are constantly looking for the “clues,” or the signs, that we can use to identify them before they strike. Since serial killers tend to kill until they are caught, identifying them as quickly as possible is of the utmost importance.

Some people think that it is virtually impossible to detect a serial killer, but they do have some general personality traits in common. Be warned, you may find that you have some of these traits. Not all individuals “cross over.” Most serial killers have a high, psychotic intelligence that makes it difficult for them to be caught, but there are traits that most serial killers seem to have in common.

Potential killers often exhibit social withdrawal or anxiety, abnormal dependence’s their mother or bad relationships with their parents, hypochondria or paranoia. They sometimes experience severe depression, a lack of hope, inability to accept criticism and a general feeling of being mistreated or unfairness and resentment toward society. Remember, these can also exist in “normal” people. What sets these killers apart are the degree to which they suffer from these afflictions. They often have some common indicative behaviors as children that may have led to these larger issues. These behaviors include bedwetting beyond the age of twelve, abusing animals, setting fires the desire to be alone and the inability to do well in school or hold a job. A large number of them also have had intimacy or sexual...